What Are Some Good Pig Feed Options?

Pigs are omnivorous and can be fed a variety of feeds, both dry and liquid. These can be supplemented with fresh food and scraps.

A good pig feed contains the necessary nutrients for health. These nutrients are amino acids, minerals, vitamins and energy, notes The Pig Site. It's worth shopping around for feed with the best balance of these nutrients. The necessary balance of nutrients will vary depending on whether a pig is a starter (young) or growing-finishing (mature).

Feeds based on corn and milo (sorghum) are both good sources of energy, notes North Carolina State University. Corn provides slightly more energy, but milo is more economical. Adding up to 5 percent fat to the diet of growing-finishing pigs by including lard or oil will help provide energy without negatively affecting the pigs' body composition. High-quality fats, such as soybean or coconut oil, can effectively supplement baby pigs' diets. Adding vegetable scraps can also supplement the pigs' diet with vitamins and minerals.

Feeding a pig on pure carbohydrate will overlook the crucial amino acids they need, notes Little Pig Farm. Look for feeds which contain proteins, particularly the following amino acids:

Lysine

Tryptophan

Methionine

Threonine

Cystine

Valine

Isoleucine

Histidine

Arginine

Phenylanline

It's also possible to raise small herds of pigs in pastures, supplemented with dairy products to provide essential lysine.